At the heart of our mission lies a dedicated team of exceptional scholars and practitioners who bring rich, diverse experiences to our institute. Each faculty member embodies a deep commitment to Tibetan Buddhism and its transformative teachings, offering unique perspectives that enrich our programs. Here’s an introduction to our six inspiring faculty members:
Justin Kelley
Justin Kelley's journey began on a farm in rural Massachusetts before spending a decade immersed in Tibetan refugee communities in India and Nepal. He studied Tibetan language, Buddhist philosophy, and meditation, culminating in a PhD in Religious Studies from Rice University under Dr. Anne C. Klein. Justin’s research explores the transformative dimensions of Buddhist practice, particularly Longchen Rabjam’s ontology of purity in the Great Completeness. His broader interests include phenomenology, learning theory, and the intersection of meditative and philosophical systems. A passionate educator, Justin emphasizes inclusivity and empathy, creating transformative learning experiences both in-person and online. His expertise includes teaching Tibetan language, culture, and religion at Rice University, sponsored by the Khyentse Foundation, as well as work with the Boniuk Institute for Religious Tolerance.
Tsunma Kunsang Palmo
Originally from England, Tsunma Kunsang Palmo's discovered Tibetan Buddhism after meeting with Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Nepal in 2005. Inspired by this encounter, she dedicated her life to the dharma, serving as an assistant to Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo in North India before taking monastic ordination in 2010. She completed a traditional three-year retreat at Sherabling Monastery under Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Tsunma Kunsang now teaches meditation and dharma, mentoring Tergar practice groups across Kathmandu, Bhutan, and India, and teaches for Tergar International online and in retreats. She also shares her expertise at Bodhicharya centers in the Caribbean. Her teachings integrate years of study and practice, inspiring students to embrace the dharma.
George Hughes
George Hughes began exploring meditation and wisdom traditions as a teenager, eventually finding his spiritual home with Mingyur Rinpoche. As a long-time student and teacher, George has shared Rinpoche’s Joy of Living and Path of Liberation teachings globally, reaching students across North and South America, Asia, and Africa. Beyond teaching, George has collaborated with Mingyur Rinpoche on various projects, including Himalayan treks supporting social engagement initiatives. A skilled yoga and holistic healing practitioner, George infuses his teaching with joy and levity, encouraging students to integrate meditation into daily life.
Jacob Fisher
Jacob Fisher is a PhD candidate at the University of Oxford, specializing in Indian and Tibetan Madhyamaka philosophy. He completed the six-year Masters Programme in Buddhist Studies of Sutra and Tantra at Instituto Lama Tsongkhapa in Italy, followed by a two-year retreat. Before completing his retreat, he was asked by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to teach and subsequently led the Masters Programme at Nalanda Monastery in France for five years. Jacob's research explores how Indian and Tibetan Mādhyamika address perceptual relativism and cultivate insight through meditation. His deep understanding of Buddhist philosophy and practice informs his teaching, offering a comprehensive approach to the dharma.
Darcie Price-Wallace
Darcie Price-Wallace is a scholar-practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism with a PhD in Religious Studies from Northwestern University. Her research, supported by a Fulbright-Nehru Grant, focused on ordination for Buddhist monastic women in the Tibetan tradition. She holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Smith College and M.A. degrees from the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work and Divinity School. Darcie’s interdisciplinary work spans Indo-Tibetan Buddhist history, philosophy, and practice, with a particular focus on cultural psychology, anthropology, gender, and sexuality in religion. She is completing a book on the lives and friendships of Himalayan and Tibetan nuns while translating a Tibetan manuscript on ordination for nuns. She serves as interim Vice President of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women and volunteers as Program Committee Chair. She has taught at Northwestern University, the Carleton Buddhist Studies Program, DePaul University, and Loyola University.
Joseph Faria
Joseph Faria was born and raised in Massachusetts, USA and became intensely interested in Buddhist thought and practice when he started college. In 2009 he attended a 10 day meditation retreat with Mingyur Rinpoche where he decided to take refuge and take Rinpoche as his root teacher. Joseph has been living in Kathmandu, Nepal since 2012 devoting his life to study and practice. He earned a Master’s degree in Buddhist Studies from Rangjung Yeshe Institute, where he also served as an instructor of spoken and written Tibetan for several years, while occasionally acting as an oral interpreter. Mingyur Rinpoche asked Joseph to serve as a teacher, translator, and facilitator at Tergar Osel Ling Monastery, which he has been doing since 2021. Joseph uses his Tibetan language skills to work with the monastic community at Tergar Osel Ling on several projects to enhance education and learning, as well as serving the monastery in various other capacities as needed.
Our faculty members embody the depth and diversity of Buddhist scholarship and practice, providing students with unparalleled opportunities to engage with the transformative teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. Through their expertise and dedication, they create a vibrant, supportive environment where students can explore the dharma and cultivate wisdom and compassion.